Tyler Farrar got his first team win in a Tour de France stage Sunday, in Stage Two. Monday he earned his first personal Tour win, outsprinting the field in Stage Three.
“I’ve been chasing this one a long time—to finally get it means so much,” Farrar told letour.com. “To get it on the Fourth of July makes it even better.”
Farrar held up his fingers in a “W” in honor of fallen friend Wouter Weylandts as he crossed the finish line. Wouter died in a crash during the 2011 Giro d’Italia.
“The first time I saw Wouter’s dad after everything that happened he said ‘Win a stage for Wouter in the Tour.’ I’ve been wanting to, I’ve been trying to for years—it all came together today,” Farrar told Versus.
Farrar rode to victory behind a leadout train consisting of David Millar, Julian Dean, and World Champion Thor Hushovd.
“I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect run,” he told letour.com. “I mean, you have the yellow jersey/world champion leading you out—it’s incredible. I’m really happy I was able to finish the job.”
Farrar might not have gotten the win had HTC-Highroad not had problems with their own leadout. HTC’s train of Bernhard Eisel, Tony Martin, Matt Goss and Mark Renshaw formed up ahead of Mark Cavendish, the “Fastest Man in the World” with 15 Tour wins already, determined to make it 16—but they started too early.
With five kilometers (3.1 miles) still to go the train had already formed. At 2k (1.2 miles) left, with only Goss and Renshaw left, Borut Bozic of Vacansoleil attacked. Goss and Renshaw picked up the pace to run down Bozic, and in doing so lost Cavendish. Coming into the last kilometer the HTC sprinter was eighth and working hard to catch his team.
With the HTC freight train absent, Garmin had no problem forming up and taking over. Hushovd made a brilliant move from several spots back, sweeping outside as the peloton rounded the final corner, to take up the lead just as Millar dropped off. The big Norwegian pulled hard for half a kilometer, then let Julian Dean lead Farrar up to the 150-meter-mark.
Romain Feillu of Vacansoleil and Jose Rojas of Movistar challenged at the end, but with no support, they had to ride longer and push harder; they didn’t have a chance.
“We have a very professional and experienced leadout, with Millar and Julian and Thor and myself,” Farrar told letrour.com. “We don’t have to talk much, those guys know what to do. The goal is to get me as close to the line as possible. I didn’t have to start sprinting until 150 meters to go today—it’s hard to beat someone when they have that.”
Indeed—but it is also easier to win when the fastest sprinter on the planet is stuck in traffic. Mark Cavendish finished fifth, despite having to ride the final kilometer alone. Farrar has won his first Tour stage, but he has yet to beat the best.
For 2011, Tour organizers have decided to have only a single mid-route sprint per stage, worth many more points, to create competition in the middle of long stages. Marc Cavendish showed his form in Stage Three by easily winning the Stage Three mid-course sprint.
Lampre’s Alessandro Pettachi launched first, led out by Grega Bole, with Omega Pharma-Lotto’s Philippe Gilbert right behind, and Thor Hushovd in tow. Mark Cavendish wisely cut across to get ahead of most of the competition, which left the Manx Missile shoulder-to-shoulder with Hushovd, trying to catch the wheel of Gilbert.
Hushovd leaned into Cavendish, who pushed back and even whacked the World Champion with his helmet.
Pettachi, exhausted, pulled aside to let the rest come through, so Cavendish and Hushovd split around the slower Lotto rider and launched their sprints. Cavendish simply rode away from Hushovd, winning the sprint by many meters.
Tyler Farrar didn’t contest the mid-course sprint, perhaps wanting to save his energy for the end. Sooner or later he will face the Manx Missile on equal terms; until then, Farrar is no doubt happy enough just winning stages.
“I’ve been chasing this one a long time—to finally get it means so much,” Farrar told letour.com. “To get it on the Fourth of July makes it even better.”
Farrar held up his fingers in a “W” in honor of fallen friend Wouter Weylandts as he crossed the finish line. Wouter died in a crash during the 2011 Giro d’Italia.
“The first time I saw Wouter’s dad after everything that happened he said ‘Win a stage for Wouter in the Tour.’ I’ve been wanting to, I’ve been trying to for years—it all came together today,” Farrar told Versus.
Farrar rode to victory behind a leadout train consisting of David Millar, Julian Dean, and World Champion Thor Hushovd.
“I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect run,” he told letour.com. “I mean, you have the yellow jersey/world champion leading you out—it’s incredible. I’m really happy I was able to finish the job.”
Farrar might not have gotten the win had HTC-Highroad not had problems with their own leadout. HTC’s train of Bernhard Eisel, Tony Martin, Matt Goss and Mark Renshaw formed up ahead of Mark Cavendish, the “Fastest Man in the World” with 15 Tour wins already, determined to make it 16—but they started too early.
With five kilometers (3.1 miles) still to go the train had already formed. At 2k (1.2 miles) left, with only Goss and Renshaw left, Borut Bozic of Vacansoleil attacked. Goss and Renshaw picked up the pace to run down Bozic, and in doing so lost Cavendish. Coming into the last kilometer the HTC sprinter was eighth and working hard to catch his team.
With the HTC freight train absent, Garmin had no problem forming up and taking over. Hushovd made a brilliant move from several spots back, sweeping outside as the peloton rounded the final corner, to take up the lead just as Millar dropped off. The big Norwegian pulled hard for half a kilometer, then let Julian Dean lead Farrar up to the 150-meter-mark.
Romain Feillu of Vacansoleil and Jose Rojas of Movistar challenged at the end, but with no support, they had to ride longer and push harder; they didn’t have a chance.
“We have a very professional and experienced leadout, with Millar and Julian and Thor and myself,” Farrar told letrour.com. “We don’t have to talk much, those guys know what to do. The goal is to get me as close to the line as possible. I didn’t have to start sprinting until 150 meters to go today—it’s hard to beat someone when they have that.”
Indeed—but it is also easier to win when the fastest sprinter on the planet is stuck in traffic. Mark Cavendish finished fifth, despite having to ride the final kilometer alone. Farrar has won his first Tour stage, but he has yet to beat the best.
Cav Wins Mid-Course Sprint
For 2011, Tour organizers have decided to have only a single mid-route sprint per stage, worth many more points, to create competition in the middle of long stages. Marc Cavendish showed his form in Stage Three by easily winning the Stage Three mid-course sprint.
Lampre’s Alessandro Pettachi launched first, led out by Grega Bole, with Omega Pharma-Lotto’s Philippe Gilbert right behind, and Thor Hushovd in tow. Mark Cavendish wisely cut across to get ahead of most of the competition, which left the Manx Missile shoulder-to-shoulder with Hushovd, trying to catch the wheel of Gilbert.
Hushovd leaned into Cavendish, who pushed back and even whacked the World Champion with his helmet.
Pettachi, exhausted, pulled aside to let the rest come through, so Cavendish and Hushovd split around the slower Lotto rider and launched their sprints. Cavendish simply rode away from Hushovd, winning the sprint by many meters.
Tyler Farrar didn’t contest the mid-course sprint, perhaps wanting to save his energy for the end. Sooner or later he will face the Manx Missile on equal terms; until then, Farrar is no doubt happy enough just winning stages.
